Justification:
This species is widespread in southeastern Asia. There is no information on population or general abundance. It is targeted in commercial and artisanal fisheries throughout its range, but landings are primarily reported as mixed Rastrelliger spp. Reported worldwide landings for Rastrelliger species have steadily increased since 1950 to over 800,000 tonnes, but no effort information is available. Given that effort is assumed to be increasing, it is not known how this species population is affected by current and historical fishing pressure. This species is listed as Data Deficient. Given the absence of an international management body, further monitoring of this species is needed on the national level, in addition to species-specific data on landings, effort and population status.

Catches of the three species of Rastrelliger are not usually recorded separately. Reported worldwide landings show gradual increase for all three Rastrelliger species, with combined reported landings increasing from 200,000 tonnes in 1950 to over 800,000 tonnes in 2006 (FAO 2009).

This epipelagic, neritic species, occurs in waters where surface temperatures do not fall below 17°C. It forms schools of equally sized individuals. It feeds on the largest zooplankton organisms, thus complementing the planktonic food spectrum of the other two Rastrelliger species.

Little life history information exists for this species. Longevity is estimated to be between 1-3 years in the Philippines (Lavapie-Gonzalez et al. 1997, Aripin and Showers 2000).

This species is highly commercial, and is caught with a number of different gears including purse-seines, fish corrals, gill-nets, cast and drift nets, and by dynamiting. It is marketed fresh, frozen, canned, dried salted and smoked (Collette 2001). It is taken along with other species of Rastrelliger off Taiwan Province of China, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

Worldwide reported landings of Rastrelliger species are increasing, and although there is no information on effort, it is also assumed to be increasing.

There are no species-specific conservation measures. Although landings are increasing, without information on effort, it is not known if current fishing activities are affecting population abundance. Better reporting is needed to determine species specific landings if possible. Additionally, given the high combined landings for this species and unknown level of effort and the absence of an international management body, further monitoring of this species is needed on the national level.